Huddersfield midfielder Dean Whitehead says they have not given up hope of catching Newcastle United.

The Magpies’ stuttering form has opened up opportunities for Huddersfield, who now sit fourth, and Reading, who are third. Even though they’re further down the table Huddersfield’s game in hand against Wolves next week means they have the better chance of catching United if they capitulate in the final games of the season.

With five minutes remaining at Derby it looked much closer – with Newcastle having much less room for error. But Jacob Butterfield’s late leveller means the Terriers cannot really afford to drop any points in the run-in. One win for United and a loss for Huddersfield in the next set of fixtures would see Newcastle promoted.

Dean Whitehead (Image: Huddersfield Examiner)

But United’s form has given Huddersfield reason to believe – and ex-Sunderland man Whitehead has pledged to “fight” to the end and hope the Magpies drop more points.

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He said: “We still believe. We’ve got a strong dressing room, it’s positive and we will fight to the end and see where it takes us.

“We’ll try to win every game that we’ve got left and see if it’s enough.

“Our confidence is high, we haven’t lost any belief at any point in the season and we showed we’ve got spirit and togetherness.

“We have plans and we try to stick to that.”

David Wagner says that Huddersfield must “focus on themselves”. He said: “We are Huddersfield Town and to have this points total is an unbelievable achievement. We have to focus on ourselves and not Newcastle,” he said.